Cars as Gifts?
I obviously watch too much television…This year, as always, many of the auto manufacturers’ ads focused on the notion that giving your loved ones a car (or cars) for Christmas, or at least celebrating the season by purchasing a new car, is the thing to do.
Sometimes, the commercials are cute, such as this year’s Mercedes ad where Santa, driving his red Mercedes, pulled by eight silver ones, makes a quick pit stop so his dog can do his business at the side of the road. Sometimes, they are weird, like Dodge’s Bill Goldberg ad Santa wanting to upgrade his sleigh with Hellcat parts. Sometimes, they are fun, Such as GMC’s ad where the husband shows his wife the new pickup and the red SUV he bought, obviously planning to give her the SUV while he takes the pickup. She runs to the pickup repeatedly saying, “I love it”. When he starts to say that she was supposed to get the SUV, she again repeats “I LOVE IT!”, and he answers, “I like red”. Mostly, though, these ads are just obnoxious. Acura’s “Season of Performance” ad comes immediately to mind for this year’s winner.
In the year I sold cars back in the early nineties, I was aware of only one occasion of a car being given as a gift. It was a really nice Mustang convertible given by an attorney as a birthday gift to his loving wife. I delivered the car to the husband in the evening, and the car was back at the dealership the next morning. Evidently, she raised holy hell when he brought the car home. So much so that Ford (not the dealer) agreed to buy the car back. So much for a car as a gift…
According to Edmunds.com, purchasing a car strictly as a gift rarely happens, but the manufacturers still insist on producing and running these ads. Anything to sell cars in the slowest month of the year.
That being said, Gail and I gave our grandson, Kenneth, at almost three years of age and a PCA Junior Member for almost a year, his first Porsche this Christmas. Granted, it was a little smaller than most Porsches, but he loves it just the same.
It’s a red 918 with a lightweight plastic body, seating for one, opening doors, operating spoiler, horn, engine revving and downshifting sounds (actuated by the paddle shifter), pushto-start button, speakers for an MP3 player, fold-in mirrors and a cup holder. The 6-volt battery can reach a full charge in 8-10 hours and allows for about an hour drive time. Its top speed of 2.5-mph can be reached in either forward or reverse.
From his response, I don’t think he’ll return it anytime soon!
Club Business
On the page 1 masthead, and later in this Die Plauderei, the results of our recent board election are on display. Although most officers and board members remain the same, here are a few new names. I’d like to be the first to welcome Vice President Nancy Goodman, Secretary Elaine Rose and Board Member-at-Large Nicole Geiler. Additionally, long time board member, Dan Hinkebein, has taken on the important role as Safety Chair and Marek Parafiniuk has agreed to assume the Public Relations Chair position left vacant by the death of Jim Singler. These volunteers, in addition to the Officers and Board Members continuing their current positions are the leaders of the Region for the next twelve months. I look forward to working with all of them to continue the growth in membership and the variety and quality of club activities available to our members.
In addition, I wish to offer a big thank you to the retiring board members for all your efforts during your years of service.
